The number of worshipers on the last Friday of Ramadan in Al-Aqsa Mosque is lower than usual in previous years (Al-Jazeera)

Occupied Jerusalem -

About 120,000 worshipers performed the fourth and final Friday prayer of the month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem, despite Israeli restrictions. This number is less than the usual numbers in previous years, which were up to 200,000 worshipers.

The Friday preacher, the Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, greeted the worshipers “crawling to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

He said, "Congratulations to you, sons of Jerusalem and the outskirts of Jerusalem, from the beloved, good, and blessed land of Palestine, as you confirm, with your advance toward your holy place and the farthest corners, that you are its loyal guardians and its faithful guardians."

He continued, saying, "And you are the ones who build it in all circumstances and at all times and conditions, despite the intensity of aggression and the cruelty of the world. Indeed, this world's conspiracy and complicity in all the crimes committed against the sons of our patient and stationed people."

Hussein praised "the steadfastness and resilience of the Palestinian people in Gaza, where there is martyrdom and hunger," calling on them to be patient because "God tests the believer," adding, "You deserve to be the people of this blessed land and to fulfill the will of our beloved Chosen One. A group of my nation continues to adhere to the truth, showing up to their enemy, conquering them and not being harmed by them." Whoever opposes them or abandons them until the command of God comes to them, and they are like that.”

He stressed that "Al-Aqsa Mosque is for Muslims alone, and no one shares it with them," adding that "every plan published in the hostile media targeting the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is a failure. It will not break your resolve and will not weaken your bond."

Don't forget Al Aqsa

For his part, the mosque’s preacher, Sheikh Ikrimah Sabri, called for people to travel to Al-Aqsa Mosque to celebrate Laylat Al-Qadr. He also called on Muslims not to forget Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It is customary for the Palestinians to mark the night of the 27th of Ramadan as Laylat al-Qadr, with prayers, supplications, and night prayers from the evening prayer until the dawn call to prayer.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Net from inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sabri added: “We urge and encourage Muslims to commemorate the 27th night of the month of Ramadan.”

He made an appeal to Muslims from Al-Aqsa, saying: “Do not forget Al-Aqsa. Al-Aqsa is a trust on all of our shoulders throughout the year, not just in Ramadan.”

In addition, large Israeli police forces were deployed in the streets of the city since this morning, and many streets were closed in the vicinity of the Old City.

The Israeli occupation authorities continue to prevent tens of thousands of West Bank residents from reaching Jerusalem and performing prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque since October 7th.

In light of very complicated procedures to prevent obtaining an entry permit, these photos were taken this morning at Checkpoint 300, separating Bethlehem and #Jerusalem... pic.twitter.com/Qr8HbX2BWq

- Al Jazeera Net | Jerusalem (@Aljazeeraquds) April 5, 2024

Thousands of worshipers began arriving to Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday evening, where they secluded themselves in the mosque.

The last Friday of the month of Ramadan coincides with Laylat al-Qadr, which the Palestinians celebrate on the evening of the 26th of Ramadan. It is the only night of the year in which the doors of Al-Aqsa Mosque are open around the clock.

Arrests and torture

The Jerusalem Governorate said that the occupation forces attacked a number of worshipers at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque. She posted on her Facebook page video clips of the arrest of two Palestinians and their torture at the Lions and Silasah Gates in the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Meanwhile, the Israeli police announced the arrest of 11 Palestinians in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem before and after Friday prayers, according to concurrent statements.

On Thursday, the Israeli police announced in a written statement that 3,600 of its members would be deployed in the city from Thursday until Friday.

The Israeli army imposed restrictions on the arrival of Palestinians from the West Bank to the city of Jerusalem to perform prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli army deployed large numbers of its forces at the crossings leading to the city of Jerusalem, checked the identities of the Palestinians, and refused entry to some of them.

The Israeli authorities only allow Palestinian males over the age of 55 and females over the age of 50 who are residents of the West Bank to enter Jerusalem on Fridays, provided they also obtain Israeli permits.

The Israeli authorities force them to leave Jerusalem before the time of the sunset prayer, which will prevent them tonight from celebrating Laylat al-Qadr in the mosque.

The Israeli occupation forces fired gas bombs at the worshipers at dawn on Friday at #Al-Aqsa_Mosque, using a drone, after the dawn prayer ended and the worshipers chanted in solidarity with Gaza.

The occupation forces also arrested several young men from Al-Aqsa square, and also at its gates, immediately after the worshipers left the mosque. pic.twitter.com/62JWU88O0V

- Al Jazeera Net | Jerusalem (@Aljazeeraquds) April 5, 2024

Gas bombs and cases of suffocation

At dawn on Friday, the Israeli police fired tear gas canisters at worshipers in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, shortly after they performed the dawn prayer on Friday, amid attacks on them and the arrest of some of them.

Al Jazeera's correspondent said that an Israeli drone fired tear gas bombs at crowds of worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, confirming that the police arrested a number of them, and that dozens of worshipers - including children and the elderly - suffered suffocation as a result of inhaling tear gas.

The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said that about 65,000 Palestinians performed the dawn prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the occupation’s obstacles.

For its part, local media said that the occupation police attacked worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque after they chanted slogans in support of the Palestinian resistance after dawn prayers.

The Israeli police said that they arrested 8 Palestinians against the backdrop of what they called “incitement and terrorist chants” after dawn prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies